Shaun Kirk

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Shaun Kirk
Born1988
Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
GenresSoul, blues
Occupation(s)Singer, songwriter, musician
Instrument(s)Vocals, guitar, harmonica, percussion
Years active2008 – present
LabelsIndependent
Websitewww.shaunkirk.com

Shaun Kirk (born 1988 in Melbourne, Victoria, Australia) is an independent Australian soul and blues singer, songwriter, and musician. He has released four albums: Cruisin′ in 2010, Thank You For Giving Me the Blues in 2011, The Wick Sessions in 2013 and Steer the Wheel in 2014.

Career[edit]

Shaun Kirk was born in Melbourne and grew up in the city's outer eastern suburbs.[1][2] He first picked up a guitar at age 16 after his mother left an old nylon string in his bedroom in the hope that it would spark some inspiration. It did and Kirk now often jokes at his shows about learning Deep Purple's 'Smoke on the Water' as his first song.[3] He then broke his ankle at age 17 and wrote his first song in the hospital bed whilst waiting for surgery.[4] Soon after he began singing and playing in front of small crowds at blues jam nights across Melbourne, initially as a folk singer before developing a feel for the blues music. Over the years he has matured his performance and now accompanies his guitar with harmonica, stomp box, tambourine, high hat, cymbal, kick and snare drum.[5]

In January 2010, Kirk launched his debut album, 'Cruisin', and shortly after embarked on his first national tour of Australia playing at many of the country's regional pubs, cafes and festivals.[6] The album then went to win the 'Best Debut Album' award at the Melbourne Blues Appreciation Society's annual VIC/TAS Blues Music Awards.

In August 2011 Shaun began working on his next album 'Thank You for Giving Me the Blues' with Western Australian percussionist/producer Arunachala Satgunasingam. The album was released in December 2011 and by January 2012 had climbed to #1 on the Australian Blues/Roots Airplay Charts.

In December 2012 Kirk booked in a session at Melbourne's The Wick Studios to set about recording a live CD/DVD called The Wick Sessions that was released in March 2013.

In 2013 Kirk issued his fifth release, an EP titled Giving. The EP included the track "Give to the Needy" which featured part of Charlie Chaplin's speech from The Great Dictator.[7]

Steer the Wheel, released in 2014, was recorded at The Wick Studios in Brunswick, Victoria and was Kirk's first recording with a band which included ARIA Award winning rhythm section Danny McKenna (drums) and Grant Cummerford (bass). The album debuted at #1 on the Australian Blues iTunes Charts[1] and included 3 singles - 'Stitches', 'Give to the Needy' and 'Two Hands on the Wheel' (feat Halfway to Forth) which all received strong airplay across Australia and internationally.[8]

Since the birth of his career Kirk has received consistent airplay on national Australian Triple J radio and ABC Radio National, as well as on ABC Local across Australia;[5] consistently toured throughout Australia and abroad selling out headline shows, as well as opening for artists including Joe Bonamassa, Beth Hart, Allen Stone, JJ Grey & Mofro, Diesel, Ash Grunwald, Mia Dyson and Matt Andersen.[4] He's become a regular name on Australia's festival circuit appearing at some of the country's biggest such as Byron Bay Bluesfest, Woodford Folk Festival, Port Fairy Folk Festival, Queenscliff Music Festival, St Kilda Festival, Gympie Music Muster, Caloundra Music Festival and Blues on Broadbeach.

Reception[edit]

After witnessing Shaun's shows at the 2011 Woodford Folk Festival - Director of Bluesfest Byron Bay Peter Noble blogged about his performances calling him "a truly hot new artist on the blues scene".

Reviewing Shaun Kirk's performance at Northcote Social Club in May 2014, critic Bradley Cowan wrote: "Shaun Kirk proved that blues is still very much in fashion with his stellar performance... His energetic strumming and deep raspy voice hit all the right notes, causing sporadic beaming and shouts to erupt throughout the audience."[9]

Discography[edit]

Studio albums[edit]

  • 2010: Cruisin′
  • 2011: Thank You For Giving Me the Blues
  • 2014: Steer the Wheel

Live albums[edit]

  • 2013: The Wick Sessions (live in the studio CD/DVD package)

EPs[edit]

  • 2013: Giving EP
  • 2019: Shaun Kirk EP

Awards and nominations[edit]

Music Victoria Awards[edit]

The Music Victoria Awards are an annual awards night celebrating Victorian music. They commenced in 2006.

Year Nominee / work Award Result Ref.
Music Victoria Awards of 2014 Steer the Wheel Best Blues Album Nominated [10][11]


References[edit]

  1. ^ a b "Shaun Kirk returns to play at Merimbula". Merimbula News. Fairfax Media. 28 January 2016. Archived from the original on 29 January 2016.
  2. ^ "On The Road with Shaun Kirk". The Sydney Morning Herald. Fairfax Media. 30 October 2014. Archived from the original on 10 December 2016.
  3. ^ Cameron, Ben (14 September 2011). "Shaun Kirk: national tour looms". Bendigo Weekly. Archived from the original on 10 December 2016.
  4. ^ a b "Shaun Kirk live in the studio". ABC North Coast NSW. Australian Broadcasting Corporation. 10 April 2014. Archived from the original on 3 May 2014.
  5. ^ a b Shaun Kirk, Yamaha Music Australia, archived from the original on 30 July 2016, retrieved 10 December 2016
  6. ^ "Shaun Kirk (VIC)", The National Festival of Australian Blues Music, Australian Blues Festival, archived from the original on 4 March 2016
  7. ^ "EP Focus: Shaun Kirk", The Music, 4 December 2013
  8. ^ "Shaun Kirk", Triple J Unearthed, Australian Broadcasting Corporation, 2014, archived from the original on 10 December 2016
  9. ^ Cowan, Bradley (28 May 2014), "Live Review: Shaun Kirk, Northcote Social", The Dwarf, archived from the original on 25 June 2014
  10. ^ "Previous Nominess". Music Victoria. Retrieved 13 August 2020.
  11. ^ "Previous Winners". Music Victoria. Retrieved 13 August 2020.
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